Piranha - Deadly and Delicious
They had it even before we knew what was happening. My rod bowed in prayer to something below the tea-colored water’s surface. The six-pound test line danced like a cat on a hot pavement. All hell had broken loose. Beads of sweat rolled down Doris' back. Her clothes were now a second skin, clinging to her every move. We panted for breath. We had fish on. The silvery oval-shaped body and red belly of a Piranha broke the surface. I reached for it. "Don't let a finger get near their mouths or you'll lose it", our native guide barked. Minutes earlier, I shuddered from a breeze escaping from somewhere up ahead despite 85 degree-plus heat. The double-digit humidity didn't help either. A maddening buzz filled my ears, but thanks my coating of Vick's Vapor Rub, the blood-suckers wouldn't feast on me. My eyes burned. My nose dripped. A coffee-table-sized leaf or hanging branch slapped into me every few steps. Curses burst from my lips even with my best efforts to become as one with the rainforest, as the indian had. Our fishing rods extended from 18" to five and a half feet. I'd hoped the light mono would suffice, although I'd squirreled away spools of twelve and twenty pound test as an afterthought. If we tagged into a 50-plus pound Tambaqui even that wouldn’t be enough. Vines as thick as my wrist dipped into light coffee-colored waters making little ripples as it slid past roots and fallen branches. Tangled growth matted the gentle slope of the bank into tea-with-milk colored wetness. I’d flicked a thumbnail-sized chunk of bloody chicken liver on a barb-less hook with a split shot into a dinner plate-sized swirl just beside a snarl of mangrove roots jutting upwards through the surface. Minutes later, his tanned skin gleaming with moisture, our guide demonstrated the efficiency of the scissor-like teeth. A green leaf held near the gaping mouth instantly sported a neat, crescent-shaped bite. Three heavy blows to the head prepared the killer for cleaning. After cleaning, the Embera made a series of diagonal cuts along each side of the fish. Into these he carefully rubbed a mixture of salt, garlic, and ground roots from a small gourd he carried. A simple shaved branch frame held the fish over a smoky fire of glowing coals. The firm toasted flesh tasted smooth and a bit earthy, like a seasoned and mellowed catfish. With a wink and a sly nod towards Doris he said. “Make these heads into soup and you will need many wives”. She glanced at me with a puzzled look. I smiled. The Perfect Killing Machine The Amazon is filled with danger. Soldier ants march by the millions devouring all life in their path. Submerged up to the eyes, Crocodiles lie in wait for the unwary – whatever or whoever that may be. Undulating its 20-foot length beneath the surface, the Anaconda, one of the world’s largest snakes, uses heat-seeking guidance to find its next meal. The barbed stinger in the tail of platter-sized stingrays can inflict a wound that takes months to heal. But none of these carry the fearsome mystique of the voracious Piranha. Ranging through South America from Brazil to the lowlands of Peru, they also inhabit waters in Venezuela, Guyana, Colombia, Ecuador and Bolivia. In the Amazon and Rio Negro rivers of Brazil and the Orinoco River in Venezuela, no creature is safe from the Piranha’s razor-sharp teeth and powerful jaws. The serrated teeth fit together like scissors, enabling Piranha to cut the flesh from their prey. Like a shark, a Piranha’s teeth are replaceable, when one breaks off a new one grows in its place. The Yagua Indians of Peru often use the sharp edges between the teeth of a Piranha jawbone to sharpen the point of their blowgun darts. A fish that is dying or swimming erratically will be quickly attacked by a large school. Piranha will also attack without warning to defend their eggs and territory. A wounded animal that strays into the water will be stripped to the bone so quickly it seems almost to “dance” on the surface as it’s ravaged from beneath. A bird that falls into the water will be gone, feathers and all, in three minutes or less. A trapped fish struggling in a net will be chewed clean to the head in a matter of seconds. Attacks on large animals and humans are often dramatically portrayed, but are rare. In some regions Piranha are known as "donkey castrators". "They will rend and devour alive any wounded man or beast.” U.S. President Teddy Roosevelt said, adding, “Piranha are the most ferocious fish in the world." Piranha, also called Caribe or Piraya only furthered their fearsome mystique when Roosevelt encountered them during his exploits in 1914. There are about 35 known species of Piranha but only five species represent a danger to man. Species range from the Red-Belly Piranha (Pygocentrus nattereri) with its characteristic red belly to the largest of the carnivorous species, the Black Piranha with its demon-red eyes and a 17 and a half inch long dark body weighing up to ten pounds. It could remove a man’s hand in two or three bites. Most species dine on fruit or seeds that fall into the water from overhanging trees. The fish are not always aggressive. Women wash clothes in knee-deep water where men spearfish while children bathe or swim in these same Piranha-infested waters without harm. Further adding to the Piranha’s mystique, Indian men with half a dozen wives and up to a score of children attribute their potency to Piranha-head soup, although no scientific justification for the soup’s potency yet exists. Fishing for Piranha Piranhas are usually part of indigenous peoples diet in the areas where the fish are found. All you need to go Piranha fishing are lines with a metal leader next to the hook so the fish doesn't bite through the line, a supply of red, raw meat (worms or cut-up fish will do too) and a bit of luck. Piranha swim in large schools and are attracted by movement and blood. In May of 1999, hundreds of anglers armed with rods, reels, and raw steak flocked to the Brazilian town of Aracatuba near Sao Paolo for a one-Sunday piranha fishing tournament. The townspeople had declared open season on the flesh-eating fish, which had decimated other species in the local river. The prize for the tournament was an outboard motor. But “most fishermen were content to go home with plenty of the reputedly aphrodisiac piranha”, claimed then town spokesman Nelson Custidio. Piranha, earning their notorious reputation by reportedly killing 1,200 head of cattle every year in Brazil, is some of the best eating in South America. Whatever name you call them and no matter where you try them, when cooked in a variety of ways, their firm light flesh with its smooth, slightly nutty flavor, is a taste you’re sure to enjoy. Larry M. Lynch is a writer and photographer specializing in business, travel, food and education-related writing in South America. His work has appeared in Transitions Abroad, South American Explorer, Escape From America, Mexico News and Brazil magazines in print and online. He travels researching articles throughout Latin America and teaches at a university in Cali, Colombia. To get original, exclusive articles and content for your newsletter, blog or website, contact him at: lynchlarrym@gmail.com |
Other Articles
What is the Difference Between Rod Action and Rod Weight For a long time when I would go looking at fishing rods I would get confused by the various desigations on the labels. It wasn't the lure weights that were confusing, it was the designations such as: Ultra-Light, Medium, Heavy, Slow, Fast, etc. After doing some research I sorted out the designations and came to a better understanding of how rods ...Salmon and Steelhead Fishing in the Northwest U.S. Where do you go to fish for salmon or steelhead in the U.S.? The answer is undoubtedly simple and obvious. For salmon and steelhead you need to travel to the Northwest ranging from northern California all the way up to Alaska. The salmon and steelhead species are plentiful in the pacific coastal waters, streams and rivers that have consistent ...Old Florida Fly Reels-A Brand Name Reel You Can Trust When it comes to fly-fishing reels, few on the market today have the tradition and excellence that an Old Florida Fly reel has. These fly reels are what is considered by the pros, as a very durable and well-crafted reel. Developed by the company Nautilus, the old Florida fly reel has long been associated with maintainability and affordability. ...3 Useful Fishing Tips Here are 3 useful tips you can use when starting fishing:1) Using Bait CorrectlyUsing lead/lead free weights. Many people use bank sinkers with a number 2 hook.To avoid sinkers to slide, you would use a swivel that acts as a stop. To protect the knot, you should use plastic beads between the swivel and weight. Using two appr ...The Art of the Road Trip - Maximizing Limited Travel Opportunities Great, inexpensive “mini-vacations” are a refreshing alternative to traditional long holidays. Best of all, you don’t even have to burn your valuable vacation days to enjoy them! Of course, I’m talking about the art (that’s right, I said, “art”) of the weekend road trip. No matter where you live it is possible to arrange memorable weekend getawa ...Fishing Alaska: Just for the Halibut...The Alaskan Sampler Plate... Part IV For many fishermen, fishing in Alaska means one thing....Halibut.I love Halibut.Especially steamed and grilled, with a tasty baked potato and an ice cold beverage!As far as fishing for Halibut, well, that is a different story, mainly because I had never done it.Now, most people I had talked to that had ventured out to ...Lucky This story is for those of you who have seen it all. Now I’ve fished almost the entire west coast of North America and only done this once. My dad asks me to go rock cod fishing with him and as usual I say yes. So we load the truck with poles, reels, tackle, ice chest and motor to Oxnard, Calif. We leave dock at about 11:00 pm, to be at the fish ...Select Your Fishing Gear Carefully Your fishing gear can help you land the big one, so you should make sure you choose wisely when it comes to lures, reels and rods. It isn’t always the most expensive piece of equipment that wins - you have to present the right lure to the fish in order to get him to bite. Depending on the conditions and where you are fishing, you may want to ...Fall Bass Fishing - Learn How You Can Land That Prized Catch When it comes to landing that prized Bass, perhaps the best time of the year would have to be fall Bass fishing. While most people love to fish in the summer usually on their vacation, spring and fall bass fishing tend to yield the best results. During the early spring is a great time to fish for bass, as this is generally known as the pre-spawn ...Make Your Child's Next Fishing Trip One To Remember Almost all children like to go on fishing trips. Fishing trips are not only fun; it also gets them outside in the sunshine and in touch with nature.Next time you take your children or grandchildren fishing, get them involved in the whole process. Don't just load them into the car and head out to the fishing hole. Make the whole ...The Fly Fishing Adventures of Mike and Curtis Curtis Sledge and Mike Hammer are good friends who love to fly fish. They have been on many fly fishing trips including several misadventures. For example, one summer day Mike, Curtis and this cute young blonde in a brown bikini went fly fishing the coast for redfish. As usual, Mike has a little too much to drink. He gets up to get another beer, ...How to Fish Spring Trout Streams Fishing spring creeks isn’t easy. Don’t expect large quantities of catches, but do expect a challenging experience which has a certain mystique about it. Catching just a few trout, will give you a feeling of accomplishment.Spinfishing is illegal on most spring creeks, but you can use a variety of flyfishing methods such as sight casting ...The Ancient Fishing Secrets Are Still Here Today Fishing has been a part of our survival for as long as recorded history and probably much longer. Ancient cave paintings from 10,000 years ago depict fishing along with fish bone remains and animal bone hooks. Even ancient stone anchors are currently being displayed in museums.Everywhere on this planet, what ever culture, each has its o ...What Happens On a Fishing Trip...Stays On a Fishing Trip Much like the marketing slogan of the city of Las Vegas, what happens on a fishing trip...stays on a fishing trip.And with good reason.Now, before you let your mind wander to seedy places and envision some sort of steamy Desperate Housewives in waders scene, understand that what I am talking about here, is mainly the transgression ...Preserving Your Fishing Experiences The more you fish, the happier you are. So goes the saying. While few of us would dispute this notion, it often helps to keep a record of your fishing exploits to preserve your experiences.Far too often, we forget about the good times as the years pass by. I can’t tell you how often I have completely forgotten some good time or hilarious ...Share Your Inflatable Fishing Boat or Suffer! Would you like to learn more about the inflatable dinghy, its accessories, or even something about an inflatable boat dolly? Whether you're in the market to purchase one or you just simply like to learn more about this remarkable watercraft, then you may find this article useful. In the early days of boating when tenders consisted of small rigid ...Nova Scotia's Lighthouse Route Nova Scotia is Canada's Atlantic province with a long history of seafaring and fishing. Its coastline is often rocky and treacherous for all boats that venture too close, or are lost in the fog banks. Lighthouses were built over the years and the Lighthouse Route is a tour from Yarmouth to Halifax along Nova Scotia's South Shore. There are ov ...Long Verses Short Fly Rods Have you ever been curious as to what role the length of a fly rod really plays in the fly cast? If you use a 7ft and 9ft rod that are both the same line weight what’s the difference? Is it just the ability to maneuver in tight spots or is there something else? First, we should define short and long rods. Typically, any rod less than 8 feet long ...
|